Cannons Add Eight in 2012 Collegiate Draft

January 13, 2012 - BOSTON, MA- The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, selected eight players in the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft, beginning with Chris Boland, a Johns Hopkins attackman, with the 15th overall pick. The Cannons added a total of eight players to the Collegiate Inactive Roster, who can be activated once their NCAA seasons are complete.

With their first five picks, the Cannons focused on adding depth at both ends of the field. After Boland, the Cannons used their second selection (19th overall) to pick up Kevin Cunningham, another attackman out of Villanova. The next three players taken were all defense: With the 32nd overall, the Cannons selected Mark Staines, a defenseman out of North Carolina; Will Koshansky, a long stick midfielder at Penn (37th); and Virginia defensive midfielder Chris Clements with the 40th pick to conclude the fifth round.

“We’re excited about the guys we drafted tonight,” said Cannons head coach Steve Duffy. “We feel as though we chose a strong group of players with the potential to enhance the athleticism of our team. We’re very happy with the way the draft fell for us.”

The Cannons then looked to add local New England players in the later rounds. With the 48th pick, the Cannons selected JJ Gilbane, a midfielder at Cornell from Rumford, Rhode Island. The last selection of the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft was Martin Bowes, a midfielder at Hartford and a Quincy, MA native.

“We were able to accomplish our goals, adding quality players at key positions,” said Cannons General Manager Kevin Barney. “We were able to maintain most of our roster through the Expansion and Supplemental Drafts, so we just needed to add some depth, and we were able to do that."

To complete the roster for training camp, the Cannons will host an open try-out in Boston in March, date to be determined, sponsored by CroART Lacrosse and CATZ Training. Local players who have registered in the MLL Player Pool will have the opportunity to impress the Cannons coaching staff and earn one of the remaining roster spots for camp.

Boston Cannons 2012 Collegiate Draft Results

1. (15th Overall): Chris Boland, attack, Johns Hopkins

2. (19th): Kevin Cunningham, attack, Villanova

3. (32nd): Mark Staines, defense, North Carolina

4. (37th): Will Koshansky, long stick midfield, Penn

5. (40th): Chris Clements, midfield, Virginia

6. (48th): JJ Gilbane, midfield, Cornell

7. (56th): Greg Mahony, midfield, Yale

8. (64th): Martin Bowes, midfield, Hartford

About the Boston Cannons
The Boston Cannons are one of the founding franchises of Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league. They began play in June of 2001 and currently host home games at Harvard Stadium in Allston. They won their first MLL Championship on August 28, 2011. Season tickets for the 2012 season are now on sale starting at only $84 for seven Cannons home games. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 617.746.9933 or visit www.BostonCannons.com.